(Black PR Wire) Juno Beach, Fla. – Thousands of local students will have new opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) as Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) announces a major expansion of its Classroom Makeover Grant program. By partnering with the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, six Title 1 schools in Palm Beach County will each receive a $50,000 grant to transform their classrooms into an innovative learning space, igniting a passion for STEM among their students.

In celebration of FPL's centennial, the company is expanding its STEM Classroom Makeover Grants to 20 grants across the state this year and devoting $1 million to benefit Florida students from economically disadvantaged communities. In addition to FPL’s four local STEM classroom grants, Ventus Charitable Foundation is also awarding two Classroom Makeover Grants, bringing the total number of grant winners this year in Palm Beach County to six.

“We appreciate our partnership with Florida Power & Light and the Education Foundation in supporting STEM education across the School District of Palm Beach County,” said Superintendent Mike Burke. “Their support helps us bring more technology into our classrooms, including drones, 3D printers, and robotics. These tools give students hands-on experiences that build real-world skills for future success. FPL also invests in our schools by providing employee volunteers and offering STEM training for our teachers. They remain one of our strongest community partners in advancing STEM learning throughout Palm Beach County.”

This significant infusion of funds underscores a shared commitment to fostering educational excellence and empowering the next generation of innovators. The collaboration between FPL and Ventus Charitable Foundation highlights the power of community partnerships in breaking down barriers and creating lasting change in education.

"The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County is incredibly proud to partner with Florida Power & Light Company, Ventus Charitable Foundation and the School District to deliver impactful STEM Classroom Makeover Grants across these deserving schools,” said James S. Gavrilos, President and CEO of the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County. “By joining forces, we are directly empowering the future of STEM education right here in Palm Beach County, creating dynamic learning environments that will inspire innovation and prepare our students for the high-demand careers of tomorrow."

The winning schools in Palm Beach County:

1. Banyan Creek Elementary School – Delray Beach, FL
2. Inlet Grove Community High School – Rivera Beach, FL
3. C. Swain Middle School – Greenacres, FL
4. Pine Jog Elementary School – West Palm Beach, FL
5. Roosevelt Community Middle School – West Palm Beach, FL
6. Westward Elementary School – West Palm Beach, FL

Each school will have one year to redesign and revitalize their classrooms, infusing them with cutting-edge technological resources, modern equipment and hands-on learning materials. From virtual reality and 3D printers to robotics kits and interactive displays, these schools will purchase the supplies they need to foster a dynamic learning environment that encourages critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving skills.

“At FPL, we believe in the power of education and the endless possibilities that STEM learning can unlock for students. We are incredibly excited to witness the creativity and growth that will flourish in each of the schools that receive these game-changing grants,” said Armando Pimentel, FPL President and CEO. “We strongly believe that STEM education is the cornerstone of a prosperous future, and these grants will serve as a catalyst for fostering innovation, curiosity and lifelong learning in our communities. We are honored to be able to grow the program to the benefit of even more students.”

“We believe that public education should be the engine of opportunity for all students in our community and this program supports the teachers and students in our county’s high needs public schools,” said Meredith Trim, Ventus Charitable Foundation President. “We look forward to seeing the final product and measuring the impact of these grant dollars.”

Now in its fourth year, FPL’s STEM Classroom Makeover Grant program, through its charitable arm the NextEra Energy Foundation, provides $50,000 grants for eligible Florida schools to offer transformational learning for economically disadvantaged students in K-12 Title 1 public, charter or private schools or for schools serving a minimum of 40% economically disadvantaged students. Funds are available to address technology or resources that will advance STEM curricula, exposure and careers to diverse students in a classroom setting.

Previous FPL STEM Classroom Makeover Grant winners from Palm Beach County include:

• Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School – West Palm Beach, FL
• Lake Shore Middle School – Belle Glade, FL
• The Conservatory School – North Palm Beach, FL

For more information on FPL’s educational programs, visit FPL.com/Education.

Florida Power & Light Company    
As America’s largest electric utility, Florida Power & Light Company serves more customers and sells more power than any other utility, providing clean, affordable, reliable electricity to more than 6 million accounts, or approximately 12 million people. FPL operates one of the most fuel efficient and cleanest power generation fleets in the U.S and in 2022 won the ReliabilityOne® National Reliability Award for the seventh time in the last ten years. The company was also recognized by Escalent in 2022 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities for the ninth consecutive year. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its efforts in sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and compliance, and diversity. NextEra Energy is also the parent company of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.   

Ventus Charitable Foundation

We empower people to be active participants in their communities, whether defined as a place or shared identity or interest. Working in partnership with local, state, and national organizations, we support a variety of non-partisan activities. Within the education space, Ventus Charitable Foundation believes that public education should be the engine of opportunity for all students in our community.

School District of Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County School District is the tenth largest in the nation and the fifth largest in the State of Florida serving more than 189,000 students (this number includes students that attend non-District operated Charter Schools) who speak 150 languages and dialects. As the largest employer in Palm Beach County, the School District has 22,801 employees, including more than 13,003 teachers.